SpaceX Launch Today: Watch the Falcon 9 Liftoff Live, Schedule & Mission Details

SpaceX’s massive Starship/Super Heavy rocket is on the pad in South Texas for Flight 10, and liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. EDT (23:30 UTC) today during a one-hour window that extends to 8:30 p.m. EDT. If the schedule slips, SpaceX has a backup opportunity tomorrow evening. Why today’s launch matters • First success of 2025? Starship’s three earlier test flights this year ended in loss of vehicle; Flight 10 is designed to complete ascent, deploy Starlink test payloads, and splash down intact. • Path to the Moon and Mars: NASA’s Artemis 3 lunar lander and SpaceX’s long-term Mars plans both rely on repeated Starship successes, so each test carries outsized importance. • Upgraded objectives: Engineers will stress-test new heat-shield tiles, attempt an in-space Raptor engine relight, and trial a two-engine landing burn for the Super Heavy booster before a planned Gulf of Mexico splashdown about 6 minutes after launch. How to watch the SpaceX launch live today • Official SpaceX webcast on X (formerly Twitter) starts at 6:55 p.m. EDT. • Space.com will simulcast the feed and provide live commentary. • Independent coverage with real-time pad views begins around 4:30 p.m. EDT on NASASpaceflight’s YouTube channel. Local spectators typically gather at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, but heavy traffic is common—arrive early. Minute-by-minute timeline (all times post-launch) 0:00 Liftoff 1:02 Max Q (peak aerodynamic stress) 2:36 Main engine cutoff on Super Heavy 2:38 Hot-stage separation; Starship ignites 6:20 Booster landing burn over Gulf of Mexico 6:40 Booster splashdown 18:27 Starlink payload-door opens for deploy demo 37:48 In-space Raptor relight 47:29 Re-entry begins 1:06:20 Starship splashdown in Indian Ocean Vehicle snapshot • Height: 400 ft (122 m) fully stacked • Thrust at liftoff: ~16.7 million lb-force from 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines • Payload: eight Starlink next-gen simulators released via “Pez-dispenser” door • Reusability goals: eventual vertical landing and “chopsticks” tower catch; today’s flight gathers data toward that milestone. Weather & range status The latest forecast shows a 75 % chance of “go” conditions, with primary concerns being upper-level winds and cumulus clouds. Cameron County has closed Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 through 10 p.m. local time for safety, underscoring SpaceX’s confidence in a same-day turnaround after Sunday’s scrub caused by a ground-support glitch. SEO quick answers • What time is today’s SpaceX launch? 7:30 p.m. EDT (23:30 UTC). • Where is the SpaceX launch today? Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. • How to watch the SpaceX launch live? Stream on SpaceX’s X account or Space.com. • What rocket is launching? Starship/Super Heavy Flight 10. • Is there a backup date? Yes, 24 hours later at the same time. Bottom line If Flight 10 achieves its ambitious test slate, SpaceX will tick off critical milestones on the road to orbital reusability and clear a key hurdle before NASA’s lunar deadlines. With prime-time scheduling, multiple livestreams, and the promise of “excitement guaranteed,” today’s SpaceX launch is set to dominate both the night sky and tonight’s search results.